REAL MADRID
Real Madrid need to save money on wages to buy new players
Real Madrid planning on shedding five players from their first-team squad as revenue losses kick in. They have to sell or loan players in order to bring in fresh talent.
Before anyone comes in, someone has to leave. That's the message coming from the Bernabéu ahead of the next transfer window. The club want to sell at least five players. There are four on the market: James, Bale, Lucas Vazquez and Mariano. They will let Marcelo and Madrid decide their futures and they will listen to offers for Nacho. There also the potential exits in the form of loans of Reinier and Brahim.
They are hoping they can pull off the clear-out and sign new players but there is complete calm with the reinforcements if that doesn’t happen. They have the possibility of returning loan players such as Achraf, Odegaard, Ceballos, Reguilón and Kubo.
Real Madrid's revenue in danger
At the moment, there are only estimations as to how much the club will lose in revenue. Nobody is sure what the final figure will be. If the league restarts, the only thing is certain is the broadcasting rights money. The loss will come from tickets sales and marketing, however, with games being played behind closed doors “until a vaccine or effective treatment has been found,” said Irene Lozano.
The club are concerned about its total revenue of what was supposed to be €822 million. It is broken into four parts: €162 million for season tickets, memberships and ticket sales, €109 million for friendlies and international competition, €180 million for television rights and €371 million in marketing.
If they lose just 20% of revenue, it will be €165 million less into their coffers. The wage bill becomes a problems then though because it will remain at €741 million. They club are calm though and are in a very strong position considering the plight of others teams. It is obvious, however, that someone will have to be sold in order to buy new players.
Another issue is that of season ticket holders, which accounts for €54 million. If the rest of the season is played behind closed doors, they will have to give half of that money back. Closing the club’s museum and not holding tours is another problem. That could mean a further loss of €25 million.
Drop in salary
The salary reductions that the squad have agreed to is 10% (if competition resumes) and that will save €45 million.
They still want to reduce the salary by more. Bale (€30 million), James (18), Mariano makes €8 million (all in gross), Brahim and Odriozola 7, Ceballos 6, Vallejo 4… Madrid are looking to cut €80 million from their squad wages.